The LDS of the future

[scubadada]

Depends on the locale ... it would work well at places where people dive regularly. I can think of a few in my area where such an operation could make a pretty penny every week-end.

There's a fill station at Casino Point (Catalina Island) that seems to do pretty well ... as I recall, it's run out of a trailer ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

You're absolutely correct, this model would work some places with sufficient demand but not in others. We still need reasonably convenient gas in the others.

Best, Craig

 

[boulderjohn]

. What and how you sell is more important then your location, just look at the state of Colorado. They are the third largest diving community in the USA. Landlocked and cold... My friend is an instructor in Ft Collins, his prices parallel mine. He has no problem staying busy with SSI right in his backyard. ( he is a NAUI instructor)

I found this curious. Colorado has had an active diving community for years--I was told about the third highest per capita (not total) statistic when I took Discover Scuba nearly 30 years ago. There has been a definite downturn of late, though. I know shops are hurting, and two just closed within the past few months.

I was also curious about your friend, the NAUI instructor and how well he is doing. The NAUI web site says there are 8 NAUI instructors in the state--last year they said there were only 2. (I suspect that is an improvement in their database more than an actual increase in instructors.) All 8 of these instructors are clustered in the Boulder/Longmont area, with the closest about 30 miles from Fort Collins. Other than a PADI shop in Broomfield that offers NAUI tech, there are no NAUI shops anywhere in Colorado. I couldn't find any web pages offering independent NAUI instruction anywhere in the state. I live in the middle of the cluster of 8 instructors, and I have never heard of any of them other than the one who does NAUI tech (a friend).

I am not challenging what you said at all. In the spirit of this thread, I am seriously interested in how your friend is getting all these students. Right now the only way that I can find NAUI instruction in the state is to go to the NAUI site, do a search for instructors, and click on the link to the name to get an email box. If that is how he is doing it, and if it is working so very well, I find it remarkable. It flies in the face of what I thought was necessary for an independent instructor to get students, and it indicates that there is no real necessity to have LDS instruction.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

orlando this has done a few times before, have fun and like flots has mentioned and getting inst to be involved.

 

[Brendon]

I found this curious. Colorado has had an active diving community for years--I was told about the third highest per capita (not total) statistic when I took Discover Scuba nearly 30 years ago. There has been a definite downturn of late, though. I know shops are hurting, and two just closed within the past few months.

I was also curious about your friend, the NAUI instructor and how well he is doing. The NAUI web site says there are 8 NAUI instructors in the state--last year they said there were only 2. (I suspect that is an improvement in their database more than an actual increase in instructors.) All 8 of these instructors are clustered in the Boulder/Longmont area, with the closest about 30 miles from Fort Collins. Other than a PADI shop in Broomfield that offers NAUI tech, there are no NAUI shops anywhere in Colorado. I couldn't find any web pages offering independent NAUI instruction anywhere in the state. I live in the middle of the cluster of 8 instructors, and I have never heard of any of them other than the one who does NAUI tech (a friend).

I am not challenging what you said at all. In the spirit of this thread, I am seriously interested in how your friend is getting all these students. Right now the only way that I can find NAUI instruction in the state is to go to the NAUI site, do a search for instructors, and click on the link to the name to get an email box. If that is how he is doing it, and if it is working so very well, I find it remarkable. It flies in the face of what I thought was necessary for an independent instructor to get students, and it indicates that there is no real necessity to have LDS instruction.

I wouldn't go by the NAUI website to count active instructors in your area...That relies on the instructor to update their info. Instructors home address most likely will not show were they are working, at any given time. As far as how he is doing, well I'd say pretty good considering the economy. Averaging 1k a week, not to bad... I have of course no way to verify that, just going off our last conversation about a month ago. (good friend, no reason to lie...) Without going into too much detail about how he does business I can tell you that he does mostly private, college students and retired folk. I think he is very good salesmen first and instructor after your on the hook...

 

[wpbdivegirl]

Hold on, starting to feel sick... I don't want to be rude to you Bob... What your doing promotes part-time instruction and almost certainly requires an instructor to have a second job... You're worth what you work for in most cases (monetary terms). That ain't saying much about you. Now I know different, what I see is your a nice guy. In terms of your effect on the value of what we do in the diving community, well you've made me sick to my stomach to say the least. You people, yes I said it "you people" are doing nothing except contributing to the problem that full time instructors have. Which is being underpaid as a whole... Your hobby shop tinkering, decimates the diving proffesion. What you do part time for fun, I do full time for a living. This is just as bad as the LDS price wars on the OW class. All the post I've read that you haven written are nothing more then hypocrisy at it's finest. I think your a nice guy Bob so don't get me wrong, I just do not agree with your business practice at all. I think you should go back and read some of your own posts over say the last few months. Maybe I'm wrong and someone hacked your account.. IDK...

OMG Bren, don't get you panties in a bunch..lol. So what if he charges 400.00 for the course. No different then the dive shops around here... Last I checked you weren't competing with these guys anyways... Some body needs to teach those who can't afford you and others like you. I didn't realize the sport only included the rich and famous... I know, i know you tailor to the 1% percent right...? Well what about the other 99%? I get your point, it does make sense. Though some people can only afford happy meals as you put it. Besides last time you were short on divers for the boat, who filled it for you? Yeah that's right, it was my happy meal divers.

 

[gypsyjim]

As far as how he is doing, well I'd say pretty good considering the economy. Averaging 1k a week, not to bad... I have of course no way to verify that, just going off our last conversation about a month ago. (good friend, no reason to lie...) ...

Then, of course if he just happened to be currently finding student difficult to recruit, and was homeless and eating out of dumpsters because of that, you friend might just find it necessary to "lie" to protect his dignity a bit when chatting with friends who are doing better. IJS

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I think he is very good salesmen first and instructor after your on the hook...

As a consumer, I'd want to stay far away from anyone who even thinks in those terms.

I'm not buying a used car ... and I'm not a fish.

I prefer to keep things in perspective ... scuba diving is a recreational activity. I'll charge a reasonable fee, and take satisfaction in helping my students become competent enough to enjoy themselves.

I don't want, or need, to be a good salesman ... my students come looking for me.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

OMG Bren, don't get you panties in a bunch..lol. So what if he charges 400.00 for the course ... Besides last time you were short on divers for the boat, who filled it for you? Yeah that's right, it was my happy meal divers.

Around here the typical OW class can run about half that much ... but we don't do boats. Shore access is just too readily available. Perhaps that accounts for some of the differences in price ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Brendon]

[SMV][/SMV]

Then, of course if he just happened to be currently finding student difficult to recruit, and was homeless and eating out of dumpsters because of that, you friend might just find it necessary to "lie" to protect his dignity a bit when chatting with friends who are doing better. IJS

That might be a problem in the circle you run in... My friend and i share something that most know nothing of... It's called combat experience. Most of my old combat diver buddies are instructors now. We don't need to lie to each other. If he was in bad shape I would be among the first to know... Pride went out the door along time ago with in the group...

 

[Brendon]

As a consumer, I'd want to stay far away from anyone who even thinks in those terms.

I'm not buying a used car ... and I'm not a fish.

I prefer to keep things in perspective ... scuba diving is a recreational activity. I'll charge a reasonable fee, and take satisfaction in helping my students become competent enough to enjoy themselves.

I don't want, or need, to be a good salesman ... my students come looking for me.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Well that's why you make 350.00 a class and i pull 995.00. With your experience you should be in the same ball park... It's not my fault you can't sell it. I'm not a car salesmen, but you could learn a thing or two from one... If you charge it, they will pay. You only devalue yourself, wpbdivegirl is right I'm not competing with you. We don't compete in the same weight class. If it's all for a good cause why don't you go NFP... I'll stick with making good money and providing for my family 100% by doing what I love!